Coasters urged to get in now for flu shot before season takes grip

MOST Coastal GPs are starting to administer their annual flu vaccinations from next week as vaccine supplies become available.

Burnie GP Superclinic practice manager Leanne Cullen said the flu vaccine was due to arrive at the clinic yesterday.

GP Amanda Felmingham said under government recommendations for flu vaccinations everyone with a chronic illness, pregnant women, people over 65 and children over five should get it.

Dr Felmingham said a mobile population travelling the world so much meant what happened in the northern hemisphere during its flu season was watched in Australia as a preview of what to expect here.

An early flu season has been predicted with a five-fold increase in the number of cases in Australia for the first two months of this year.

According to reports already this year, the flu has infected 2500 people in Australia, including 37 Tasmanians.

Of those cases 905 flu notifications were in Queensland, followed by 502 in NSW, 399 in Victoria, 314 in South Australia and 34 in the ACT.

The chair of the Influenza Specialist Group Dr Alan Hampson said almost 80 per cent of people aged over 65 were having their annual flu vaccine but the under 65s in high-risk groups had been harder to convince as they tended not to see themselves as more at risk.

Dr Hampson said younger people with heart conditions, asthma, respiratory conditions, diabetes, kidney disease, smokers, the obese and pregnant women were at risk of greater complications from the flu.

Dr Hampson said cost was not a barrier with the vaccine free for the elderly and at-risk patients and $20 for others.

More information about flu vaccinations is available from your GP or by visiting www.immunise.health.gov.au, or calling the Immunise Australia Information line on 1800671811.